The parents of Harriet Stobbs, a 14- month-old baby who died in hospital following a liver transplant, say they are to launch a charity in her memory.

Harriet, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, died in her parent's arms on Tuesday after the operation in late January failed to save her.

Robert and Kath Stobbs say they want a lasting legacy to their little girl.

They thanked well-wishers and praised the care which Harriet had received at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Mr Stobbs, 30, said: "It gives us great relief to know that although she could not donate herself, her story has touched so many people and it has increased the number of people who have registered on the organ donor register.

We held her in our arms and one by one we turned each machine off

Kath Stobbs, mother

"We would like to think about setting up a charity to try and keep the memory of Harriet.

"She has already helped so many people in a way of raising the profile of organ donation and we'd like to keep her memory going and use it as something to help other people."

Harriet's transplant was carried out after a nationwide appeal for a donor organ.

Her rare AB blood group made it harder to find a donor and she died despite several corrective operations.

Harriet had spent most of her life in hospital after being born prematurely.

Mrs Stobbs, 33, said: "We were told in the morning that Harriet wasn't going to make it, so we had a christening at 5 o'clock and then the family left and just myself and Rob were left with a nurse.

"We held her in our arms and one by one we turned each machine off.

"It was the best hug that we've ever had because she's always had tubes hanging out of her - this time we actually held her so that she was free of everything."